Home Depot Security Guard, Cop Shot By Armed Shoplifter: Police

CHICAGO — A retail security guard and a Chicago police officer were shot by an armed shoplifter Thursday afternoon in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood, police said. The suspect was later shot by police during a brief shootout and has succumbed to his injuries.

Around 5 p.m., an employee from the Home Deport at 47th Street and Western Avenue was shot by a man said to be shoplifting. Ald. Ray Lopez (15th) wrote on Facebook. The suspect fled on foot and was pursued by 9th District police.

According to CPD News Affairs, officers chased the man on foot to the 2500 block of West 46th Place, when the man shot at the officers, wounding one of them in the shoulder. Officers returned fire wounding the man, who was apprehended and taken into custody. The suspect was taken to Stroger Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The Home Depot employee suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was transported to University of Chicago Medical Center in grave condition. The police officer was brought to a local hospital where he is said to be in good spirits but is expected to have a long recovery period for his injury, Lopez said.

A comprehensive use of force investigation is underway by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability with the full cooperation of the Chicago Police Department. The officers involved will be placed on routine administrative duties for 30 days.